While some time has passed, the Canes' position on defensemen Anton Babchuk and Dennis Seidenberg has not changed.
General manager Jim Rutherford said again Monday that neither will be a part of the team next season. The Canes still are looking to trade Babchuk, he said. Seidenberg, an unrestricted free agent, will not be re-signed.
"The decision has been made on Anton — he's going to be moved," Rutherford said. "We now have our top six defensemen."
Rutherford said he had a team call to inquire about Babchuk a few weeks ago, but said that team has not called back. Babchuk, a restricted free agent, has rejected the Canes' offer of a one-year, $1 million contract.
Rutherford said any trade for Babchuk likely would not include the Canes receiving a forward in return, saying it would probably involve a prospect or draft picks.
"We're not in a desperate position. We've got good depth players who could grab that spot," Rutherford said. "If there is (a free agent) out there with a reduced salary, we'll take a look at him."
Rutherford said he spoke with Seidenberg's agent the day before the July 24 trade with the Boston Bruins that brought defenseman Aaron Ward back to the Canes.
"We decided to move forward," Rutherford said. "We've changed our defense. We may not have a player (like Babchuk) who can score 16 goals but we have changed the style and makeup of our defense."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
HD Video Converter
Thu, 08/20/2009 - 03:26 — crystallyThis HD Video Converter can help us convert any hd video formats to another.
tougher slower VS faster finess
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 13:18 — slasherThe team is tougher but slower and that might prove to be a problem with fast teams like the Capitals. If you don't have the scoring from the point and the team is too slow, the defense may not be any better at defending and score less goals. I agree 3 or 4th in the division could happen. Capitals got better with Knuble. Atlanta came on strong at end of year and made some good additions. Florida is a fast young team with good goaltending. The Southeast will be no piece of cake next season.
While Babchuck won't score
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 20:47 — twinfanWhile Babchuck won't score 16 goals again, he did give them a shot from the point which I don't see in this team. I don't think the offense will be as good as it was in the second half of the year last year. As I said before, in this economy, the Canes better win early to keep people in the seats. I see them as a third or fourth place team in their division right now and ninth or tenth overall. I hope I'm wrong.
3rd or 4th in the
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 10:01 — jgrant6413rd or 4th in the division?
behind tampa "firesale" bay?
behind atlanta or florida? really?
I am a realist and, I know we may not take the league by storm, and washington will be a tough contender, but we are an improved team from last season. I don't know that I can agree with us being less than 2nd in the division. for that to happen those three teams will have to have several young players break out next season.
I even question Washington a little bit, simply because federov is gone. I know he is old, past his prime, and only had like 20 points last season, but he seemed to really put washington over the edge, from playoff contender to cup contender. sometimes that 1 player can make a huge difference. I am not saying washington will be terrible because federov is gone, but i just wonder how that will affect the teams makeup. just sayin...
Goaltending too.
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 16:09 — fizzbeeI would add that the Cap's goaltending is suspect. Theodore and Varlamov are not the most confidence-inspiring pair in the division.
We won't miss Babchuk any
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 11:01 — ctillWe won't miss Babchuk any more than we missed Tverdovsky and Ozolinsh after they were gone.
Babchuk
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 08:04 — coultersPlease! We donot need him!!!
GO CANES!!
A step back
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 19:49 — scomilI'm not normally too negative here, but I can't help but think that we've taken a step backwards on D. Our d-men our bigger, older and slower. That puts even more pressure on the forwards than what they had last year, and makes us prone to more stupid penalties all over the place. That's what cost Lavi his job. We also don't have Babchuk on the PP any more, which was a big reason we made it to the playoffs. I like Corvo but his shot is too wild from the point - often 2 feet over or wide of the goal. I can't believe Babchuk at least didn't get offered a raise. If we can't score on the PP, that's more pressure again on our forwards. I do like the fact that hopefully Cam Ward will have more breathing room this year - but he'll need it to keep the score down. I still think we have a chance to be pretty good but I just think all of these glowing reports I hear and read about the D are overblown.
Disagree
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:58 — GoShelfWhile I agree that Babchuk did score some timely goals, it's hard to say he's the main reason we made the playoffs, Cam Ward & our team d was the main reason we made the playoffs - most of our wins last season we held our opponent to 2 goals or less, which had little to do with Babchuk and more to do with our top 2 d pairing, which consistently from February through the first 2 rounds of the playoffs shut down the opponents top forwards.
Adding Ward & Alberts adds 2 experienced physical dmen, which is what we badly needed. You will not see those 2 get pushed around or get physically dominated like Kaberle & Seidenburg did. I liked both of them while they were here, I just think with their removal and the addition of Ward & Alberts we're a much tougher team to play against.
I think the points you make
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 22:40 — jgrant641I think the points you make actually help the offense.
Part of our problem has been the defense chipping in too much. I like Lavi a lot but he seemed to have the idea (while it worked in 06) that the defense needs to be extensions of the forward corps. It caught us many times with EVERY having to play back.
Last year we seemed to find a better balance of defense chiping in while having some stay at home d-men hanging back. I think with Corvo and Pitkanen able to step up, while being paired with solid positional Ward and gleason the offense can worry less about playing on their heels, and can open up the offensive zone, while having an offensive minded d-man able to help if needed but not expected to NEED to play offensive.
While Ward is older, he isn't an old man, he is coming off his best year yet, and Alberts too is on an upswing as he is 28 and maturing, as most defensive players do in their late 20's.
to compare ages... oddly enough the average age only goes up 1 year, which is actually including our returning playersgetting 1 year older.
Pitkanen
Kaberle
Seidenberg
Alberts
right on !
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 10:58 — Hockeydogjgrant641 is correct in my humble opinion. While it is gravy when blue liners add to the scoring,thier first job is to defend. Standing up a rushing forward at the blueline can help create offense.
New Defense for Hurricanes
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 08:23 — abramsdougAlthough I was a strong supporter of Babchuk, I think it is the logical and appropriate decision to move ahead without him. Babchuk was the person who decided two years ago to play in Russia; and in doing so he lost benefits he otherwise would have received under the CBA. In the end, Babchuk is only hurting himself; and his attitude does not fit well within the team concept adhered to by the Hurricanes organization. I felt Seidenberg made very costly mistakes and much preferred Aaron Ward to Seidenberg. I agree that Alberts is a good choice for the Hurricanes. I think Pikanen and Corvo will benefit from having positionally sound partners on defense. My best guess is that ultimately Carson and/or Rodney will emerge as NHL level defensemen and will get substantial minutes over the season. In an ideal world, Conboy would also be able to take on some important minutes on defense. I am much happier with the increased physicality on defense. I wish Babchuk well; but it looks like he will be playing his career in Russia.
I agree, I think Babs and
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 18:24 — jgrant641I agree, I think Babs and Seidenberg bring some positives to the table, the new look "d" is a vast improvement from where we were last year.
on a side note, for those interested, the new videoboard has been blogged, as it is up and working...
enjoy...
http://canesvision-hd.blogspot.com/
While many
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 17:22 — esteban1949here have liked and appreciated the efforts from both of them this past season...But the Canes Front Office Pays JR to put together a group of players that will again ( onn paper anyway) point the Canesin the direction of another possible playoff run for The Cup...and Not the OMG we almost had it & it was fun while it lasted boobie prize for second place..
And Chip, where you been hiding dude ?? You didn't write,fax or send a post card....I was thinking of starting a pool to see IF & When you ever got back...Good to see you here...even if many of us or any of us agrees or disagrees with ya...
Go Canes !!
Go Canes !!
Buh bye Babchuk
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 16:07 — dddExactly Hockeydog. Now that we have brought in a defense-men who can actual play defense, the Canes will definitely stop more shots then Babchuk can ever hope to score. Later Babchuk, glad he will be gone
Buh bye Babchuk
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 16:06 — dddExactly Hockeydog. Now that we have brought in a defense-men who can actual play defense, the Canes will definitely stop more shots then Babchuk can ever hope to score. Later Babchuk, glad he will be gone
Buh bye Babchuk
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 16:06 — dddExactly Hockeydog. Now that we have brought in a defense-men who can actual play defense, the Canes will definitely stop more shots then Babchuk can ever hope to score. Later Babchuk, glad he will be gone
Would love to see Babs
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 14:51 — mokimanoWould love to see Babs traded with a return of a solid 2nd round draft pick or a prospect defenseman that comes back the Canes way.
Seids had a great year last season, I'm sure he will sign in a place like Phoenix or Vancouver where they are short on defense and likely play for around $2 million per...
A.Ward is an upgrade over both Babs and Seids defensively...and Alberts is a wild card that still could see his best hockey in front of him.
Buh bye Babchuk
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 14:44 — HockeydogI like the defense Rutherford has assembled. Babchuk won't be missed. Assuming Babchuk can regularly score at that pace in the NHL, the new defense will stop more than 16 goals this season , and make forwards pay a higher price to skate in the Canes zone. I hope he enjoys the KHL.
I will be interested to see where Seidenberg ends up, and for how much. I 'd have liked to see him stay, but not at an inflated price. I wonder if he didn't care for the times he was a healthy extra and wants a situation where he knows he'll be a top 6 guy. I'd sure like to see him in the lineup over Wallin.